Colledge would like offensive line position clear

Daryn Colledge believes playing multiple spots along the line has hindered his progress at left guard.

Green Bay — If moving around the offensive line has greatly hindered the career of Daryn Colledge, he wouldn't say so last week.

But there is no question Colledge would like to settle into his preferred position of left guard for the Green Bay Packers.

In the past, he has said that changing positions, mostly to fill in at left tackle when Chad Clifton was injured, might have affected his overall development.

But the bottom line is Colledge had 14 starts at left guard and two at left tackle in 2009, and 14 starts at left guard and one each at right tackle and left tackle in 2008.

While playing mostly guard, Colledge also has been Clifton's main backup and has invested some practice time preparing for that role.

But with rookie tackle Bryan Bulaga on the team now, Colledge admits to looking forward to playing just guard now.

"Well that's kind of the promise every year, but due to injuries and things like that, I don't try to rely on that," Colledge said during the first session of organized team activities last week.

"I would absolutely love to be the left guard full time and take every rep in every game because I feel like that's my best position. It doesn't always work like that.

"For now, we're going to go in with the same goal we have every year: Bust our (expletive), stay healthy and have a great offensive line."

Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin has heard the theory that shuffling Colledge may be an issue, but he isn't buying it.

It's not clear whether Philbin found Colledge to be making excuses or thought the moving around theory, and the criticism with it, to be flawed.

This was his response when he was asked if Colledge could become a solid, good player, now that he's just a guard.

"We could sit here and say, 'Well, he had to play left tackle for two weeks, and that's why he didn't play well at left guard,' " said Philbin. "And I'm not sitting here saying he didn't play well at left guard. But the fact of the matter is, in the National Football League, you dress seven guys; sometimes guys have to play different positions.

"I think in his vault, he has probably 2,500 reps or maybe 3,000 reps at left guard even going in to last year. I don't know if we can knock our offensive staff around for moving guys: 'Oh my gosh, we can't get guys in the same position.' I don't know if that's a valid argument in that particular case.

"Moving T.J. Lang out to left guard and left tackle as a rookie, and not ever being a starter - there may be some merit to that. And I'm not saying Daryn Colledge didn't play well at left guard. That's not the case. However, when push comes to shove, you've been in the league 3½ years; I mean, that's not a valid reason to me."

Philbin was then asked his assessment of Colledge's play last year.

"Good and bad, like a lot of our guys. I mean, we have pretty high expectations, too," said Philbin. "You have to remember, the guy was a contributing member of the highest-scoring team in Packers history. I think he did some good things, like anybody else, but he's got some work to do, as do all our guys."

Philbin and Colledge agree there. Colledge said he was not nearly as happy with his first half of 2009 as he was the last half.

That motivated him to work hard during the off-season in Boise, Idaho, where he worked with a strength coach.

"I knew this off-season was big mentally and physically for me," said Colledge. "I was at home taking care of myself physically and mentally, so I could be the best offensive lineman I can be. Aaron (Rodgers) deserves it, the team deserves it, the city deserves it."

Added Philbin: "He looks solid, yeah, looks like he's working hard, yeah; certainly doesn't look out of shape, doesn't look like he came in here from being in Boise doing nothin'."

There were reports Colledge was unhappy with the lack of a contract extension and past position switches, but in the end, Colledge signed his restricted free-agent tender May 10 and said he had every intention of being here for the start of OTAs.

"This is the most important time for me to be with my teammates. I would never do anything to hurt these guys," said Colledge. "I think it is too important to be here working with this offensive line."